Our History and Our Future

Our beginnings…

In 1962, Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago welcomed our first 27 kindergarten and first grade students. This fulfilled the dream of the Board of Directors of the United Synagogues of America (now the Midwest Region of Conservative Judaism) that sought to establish a unique school that would weave together the best of General Studies and Judaic Studies, and would allow students to understand and experience their Jewish and American lives as one integrated whole. This was a new idea for parents in our community and one that began to appeal to Jewish families who had traditionally embraced the public school system.

The school was initially housed at Temple Judea in Skokie briefly before moving to Beth Hillel Congregation in Wilmette for seven years. It then moved into North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park for two years while a permanent home was constructed in Northbrook at 350 Lee Road, thanks to the financial contribution of Ben z’l and Florence z’l Sager. The Sager Solomon Schechter Day School opened in 1971, and a group of parent volunteers worked non-stop to put the finishing touches on the building.

Our growth…

By 1978, enrollment had increased and there was a need for additional space.  A public school building became available to lease in Skokie to house the Skokie Solomon Schechter Elementary and Middle School. The Sager Solomon Schechter Elementary School remained in Northbrook, and all three schools flourished. By the early 1990’s both buildings were bursting at the seams.  A new, much larger facility was designed to accommodate the Sager Solomon Schechter Elementary School and the Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in Northbrook, which opened in 1994.

Our new Pre-K…

In 2010, Solomon Schechter Day School expanded to a Pre-K – eighth grade Jewish day school with the opening of our new Marvell D. and Stanley J. Ginsburg Pre-K Program for three- and four-year-olds at the Skokie campus. As news of this outstanding program grew, enrollment in the Pre-K soared.

Our future…

Looking ahead, during the 2010-2011 school year, the Board engaged in a comprehensive effort to plan for the future. The data indicated that despite our deep commitment to both the Northbrook and Skokie campuses, both campuses were underutilized. To remain fiscally strong, we needed to consolidate these campuses. Through this consolidation, we will not only maximize our space and resources, we can also begin to fully realize our vision of a financially healthy, academically excellent, warm and diverse community housed in an exceptional facility.

Parents, faculty, and staff quickly united to build a new future together. The 2011-2012 school year begins with all Schechter students in grades three to five at the Northbrook Campus. Next year (2012-2013), students in grades one and two will also join together at the Northbrook Campus. That same year, we will maintain our Skokie-area presence by expanding our Pre-K and kindergarten to an Early Childhood Center in a new location in the Skokie area.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are committed to forging ahead in a way that weaves together the best of our Skokie and Northbrook communities and cultures to ensure not only a sustainable and financially strong institution, but also an institution that clearly reflects our values, our sense of community, and our commitment to excellence.